MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1762, 13 October 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, Octobsb 13. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., B.M.J Assault. —Stephen Monk was charged with assaulting Constable McGill in the execution of his duty. The constable found the accused in the hands of two persons who were trying to take him home. They were unable to do so, and ho accordingly took him in charge, and the assault was committed while being taken to the lock-up. A fine of 20s was imposed. Lakceny. Charles E. Anderson was charged with stealing £1 2s 6i from the person of John Blaxam. The prosecutor was both deaf and dumb, and had to be interrogated with written questions, answering them in the same way. The prosecutor stated that the prisoner took the money from him at the Theatre Royal last Saturday night. A cabman saw him take it. Witness last had the money in his pocket at the CaTcrsham Hotel. He felt the prisoner taking it from out of his left hand trousers pocket. The money consisted of a £1 note and two shillings and sixpence in silver. The prisoner saw witness paying money for drinks. William Penfold, a cabman, said on Saturday night last he saw the prisoner and prosecutor. They got into his cab, and prisoner asked him to drive them to the Clarendon. He said his companion was deaf and dumb, and had plenty of money. Witness then drove to the hotel, and at the request of the prisoner got them three drinks, which prosecutor paid for. At the request of the prisoner, witness then drove them to the Terminus Hotel, where they had more drinks. Prom thence he drove them to the Central Hotel and back again to the Oaveraham, where the prosecutor accused the prisoner of having robbed him. Witness then drove away, accompanied by the prisoner. The prosecutor had no money to pay for the hire of the cab, and explained the cause that the prisoner had taken his money from him. Constable O’Connor said he arrested the prisoner the previous day, and explained the charge to him. Prisoner said he had arrested the wrong man, and that he knew who had taken the money. IHe said he saw the prosecutor give the witness Penfold a pound at the Clarendon to pay for cab hire, and Penfold kept the pound. The prosecutor, being recalled and examined through an interpreter, gave his evidence in such a confused and contradictory manner that it was not possible to convict cbe prisoner, but his Worship said it was clear that the theft lay between him the cabman, and no one acquainted with the character of the prisoner could doubt which was guilty. The prisoner moreover had tried to shift the responsibility on to the cabman. The case would have to be dismissed.

Vagrancy'.—Margaret Guerin and Hubert White were charged with having no lawful visible means of support. Both prisoners were arrested in Hagley Park on Sunday night, and from the evidence of the arresting constable had no settled means of abode, the man, who was elderly, living on the prostitution of the woman. Sergeant Wilson gave corroborative evidence from an experience of both prisoners for eight or nine years. The prisoner White was cautioned and discharged, and the female prisoner sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Violent Assault.—Henry Bokhoff, remanded from the 6th inst., was charged with violently assaulting his wife, Wilhelmina Bokhoff. Mr Neck appeared for the defendant. The prosecutrix said she wished to withdraw the case, but the police prosecuted. Margaret Willis, residing in Tuam street east, said that on the morning of the sth she heard screams of murder in a woman’s voice coming from the prisoner’s house. She went over and saw the prisoner throw his wife off the premises, slap her face, and strike her on the head with a bottle. She asked the prisoner if his wife had cut her head, and he said ho had given her a good “ hammering.” Witness then sent for the police. To Mr Neck—Blood was flowing from a wound on the prisoner’s head, but witness did not think, it was caused by the blow she had struck with the bottle. Mary Phipps, who lived near the prisoner, corroborated the evidence of the previous ■ witness. Bichard Pridgeon, acting house surgeon at the Hospital, deposed that the prosecutrix was admitted into the Hospital on the sth instant, suffering from a small. but severe cut on the head. She had been an inmate of the Hospital ever since, and only discharged this morning. The prosecutrix being sworn, made a long statement, the gist of which was that she knew nothing about the manner she came by her injuries as she and her husband lived on the best of terms. Mr Neck addressed the Bench, and then put thedefendant in the witness-box, but His Worship said there was no necessity to go further into the matter. There was no doubt as to the assault having been committee, but as the prosecutrix wished to withdraw the charge,, he would permit that course to be taken on the payment of all costs, including that of the Hospital charge, in the case. The police had only done their duty in bringing the case forward. The defendant was then discharged, the costs amounting to £2 8s 6d, Obtaining Monet Under False Pretences. —John Higgins, charged with obtaining money under false pretences, was remanded for twenty-four hours. Hobbes and Cattle at Large.—William Mcllraith was fined 5s for allowing six horses to wander at large. Hugh Butler, John Dolan, S. Taylor, John Broadley, John Hansman, and Benjamin Gahagan were each fined ss, and costs 7s, for allowing horses and cattle to wander at large. Trespassing on the Bailwat Line.— Louis Smith was summoned for driving his cab across the railway line, the engine and train being within six feet of him. The witness, a railway porter, said ho warned him, and the defendant crossed in spite of him. Mr Inspector Hickson said he was requested by the railway authorities to press for a heavy penalty to check the practice. A fine of 20s was inflicted. Charles Baker was fined 10s for entering a railway carriage while in motion.

Causing an Obstruction. William Green and Reuben Butcher were each summoned for obstructing the public thoroughfare at the corner of Colombo street and Cashel street, by allowing their fish carts to remain there after being ordered to move on by the police. The defendants were master and man, the latter acting under the orders of the former. The case against Green was dismissed, and Butcher was fined 20s, and 2s costs.

Shooting with an Aie Gun. —A lad named Joseph Wilson was summoned for shooting at Wm. Pentecost with an air gun. Mr McConnell appeared for the defendant* and stated that the boy admitted discharging the air gun, but he aimed at a post and not at the complainant. The complainant stated that the defendant fired at him when he was in a urinal at Riccarton. Ho saw the bullet fall, and wben he charged the boy with shooting at him, he aimed at him again. Hod no reason to believe the defendant had any animosity against him. Defendant asked him not to split upon him. To Mr McConnell— Laid the information because he thought that the defendant had been connected with thelate sticking up case. His Worship said the boy had done a foolish thing, but as there wag no reason to believe he meant to hurt any one ho would only bo fined 5s with 17s costs. Assault with Intent. —Albert Pillow was charged that being armed with an offensive weapon he assaulted H. E, May, with intent to rob him. Dr. Poster appeared for the prisoner. Henry Ernest May sworn, said —I am a draper carrying on business in Christchurch. On the night of the 3rd inst. I was returning from Riccarton, accompanied by my wife and Henry Harris, coachman to Mr J. Bealh, of Riccarton. We were all three in a conveyance, and Harris was driving. It was a single seated four-wheeled buggy, I was seated on the near side, Harris on the off side, and my wife in the centre. When about a quarter of a milo from the Riccarton Hotel on the Christchurch side a man rushed from the side walk en the near side to the centre of the road, and held up both hands, shouting to us to stop. He then seized the horse’s bridle, and the horse was pulled up to a walking pace. The lamps in the buggy were lit, and I observed the man had a black mask on. He presented a revolver at me, and demanded me to deliver up my money, or he would fire. I told him I had no money. Ho still had hold of the bridle and stood about 6ft. off. I said I had no money, and ho then said, “If you have no money, you hare a watch. Deliver up your watch.” The coachman Harris then said, “I have 4s 6d, if he would take that.” Harris was off by that time, and behind the buggy. Harris handed the money to Mrs May, who was still seated in the buggy. Sh said, “ I'll hand it him ; he’ll surolyjnot shoo a woman.” By this lime the man had com nearer,(and was standing about 2ft. from th front wheel of the buggy. Seeing Mrs May' band extended, I was rising to pull it back and the man said, “ If you move, I will lire.’ J immediately jumped .at bim and he fired

Hhis brought mo within about two feet of him, and I caught him. The flash of the pistol •hone in my face. I experienced a »en»am on the neck and shoulders as if the b had hit me. Another shot was then fired. Harris rushing to my assistance, ■while I had hold of him. We immediately had him on the ground. I requested my wife to drive back to the hotel for assistance, ■which she did. In a few minutes the trap returned, with Mr Lewis, of the Bicoarton Hotel, and another man. I requested one to go the Polico Depot, and the other to take my place to secure the man, while I returned to the hotel to see if the shot had really touched me, and to look after my wife. Harris and the other man were left in charge of the prisoner. I got the revolver from the prisoner, and afterwards gave it to Detective Benjamin. It was in the same state as when I took it from the man. The revolver produced is the same. I fancy I heard the pistol click, but am not quite sure. I did not know who the man was. It was very dark. The overcoat I wore that night I gave to Detective Benjamin. The mark on the the shoulder was from the first shot. The undercoat I wore was also marked. I had a small bruise on my shoulder, but the bullet did not penetrate my clothes. [Left sitting.] LYTTELTON. Monday, October 13. [Before J. T. Bouse, Esq., J.P.] PROFANITY. —Arthur Kincaid was presented lor using profane language within the hearing of a constable on London street, on Saturday night. lined 20a, or forty-eight hours’ im. prisonment. Dbbbbting theib Ship. —Two of the ■crew of the German barque Don Guillermo were presented for deserting from that vessel. They were remanded until Tuesday.